The (Muffled) Executioner's Song

Today the South Florida Sun-Sentinel has a lengthy article about that state's attempts to gain more medical advise for their execution process to make it more "dignified and humane." It starts off like something from a sci-fi novel:

When an inmate receives a lethal injection in Florida, a man in a purple moon suit leans over to listen for a heartbeat and feel for a pulse as witnesses watch and wait. After a few seconds he nods, triggering an announcement that the execution has been completed.

The man is a doctor and the attire shields his identity — not just from the prisoner's family and friends, but from the American Medical Association. Its code of ethics bars members from participating in executions, as do those of the American Nurses Association, the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Florida Medical Association.

While I can certainly understand why the AMA wouldn't want docs pushing the button to execute someone, but surely a doc will have to (at some point) sign off on a death certificate, at least. Of course, Florida wants to go beyond that:

Under Florida's proposal, the doctors could be used to insert the intravenous tubes and keep them flowing. They could also examine the inmate to determine any health issues that might hinder the execution or attach and observe the heart monitor. A doctor or pharmacist would be responsible for purchasing, maintaining and mixing the lethal chemicals.

The AMA is fairly blunt about it's position:

[Dr. Mark Levine, chairman of the AMA's Council of Ethical and Judicial Affairs]said doctors participating in executions must decide if they are 'an instrument of the state or a member of a profession dedicated to preserving and protecting life. You can't be both.'

Indeed.